A frail pensioner has died after slipping and hitting his head as he got off a bus.

Eric Abbott, 77, fell head-first on to the pavement outside Langney Shopping Centre in Kingfisher Drive, Eastbourne.

He had stepped from the stationary bus after the driver told him it was not calling on his route.

Mr Abbott was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital but died later that day from head injuries.

Neighbours today paid tribute to Mr Abbott, who has lived in a bungalow in Langley for 18 years. His wife May has been in long-term hospital care at the District General Hospital and her husband regularly used the bus to visit her.

Next-door neighbour Jean Wood said: "He was a lovely old guy and as far as we were concerned he was a good neighbour.

"He could not get very far on his own but he used to go up to the shops. His wife was ill and so long as the weather was fine he would go up and see her."

Bob Reyns, who has known the couple since they moved in, said: "My wife and I used to talk to Eric every day when we saw him at the shopping centre.

"He invariably used to ask, if someone he knew was around, if he could hold on to our arms to help him get through the wind."

Neil Instrell, divisional manager of Eastbourne-based Stagecoach South Coast Buses, said the driver had filled in an accident form after Mr Abbott's fall at 10.45am on Friday.

He added: "As it took place outside of the bus, it is not really something we would have any involvement in."

Sergeant Paul Skinner, of Polegate traffic police, called for witnesses to come forward.